Roundworm Infections in Children

Ascariasis is the name of an infection caused by the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides.
When a worm lives inside the human body, the condition is called a parasitic infection.

Roundworms can live inside the small intestine for up to 2 years. The worms are about
as thick as a pencil and can grow to be about 13 inches long. They reproduce very
quickly. Female roundworms may lay more than 200,000 eggs every day. These eggs leave
the body through bowel movements.

Ascariasis is the most common type of worm infection in the world, with an estimated
1 billion people infected, but it is rare in the U.S. Roundworm's eggs live in the
soil and in contaminated feces or bowel movements. It is more common in countries
where people live in poverty, where there is poor disposal of human feces, or where
crops are fertilized with human feces, Ascaris eggs can be ingested and the infection
can spread from person to person via infected feces.

Children are more likely to be infected because they are more likely to put their
contaminated fingers in their mouths. Once they are infected, they are more likely
to have symptoms because their intestines are narrower and the worms have less room.

Your child may be at risk for roundworms if he or she has been adopted from a developing
country or if you have traveled to areas of the world where these infections are common.
Ascariasis tends to be more common in warm, wet, tropical countries.

What are the symptoms of roundworm infection in children?

If your child were to swallow a roundworm egg, it would pass down into your child's
intestine and hatch into a baby worm called a larva. Larvae can pass through the intestine
wall into the bloodstream and travel through the lungs up into the throat. They are
then swallowed again and return to the small intestine where they grow into adult
worms.

Adults and older children may have no symptoms. When signs and symptoms do happen
in children, they may include:

Worms that resemble earthworms in a bowel movement

Worms coming out of the nose or mouth

Stomach pain

Coughing

Loss of appetite

Fever

Wheezing

Weight loss or failure to grow

If worms cause a blockage of the intestine, a child may develop severe pain and vomiting,
with a tender, bloated, and hard belly. At this point, it is necessary that you get
immediate medical attention for your child.

How is roundworm infection diagnosed?

If your child has a history and symptoms that suggest roundworms, your child's healthcare
provider will order a stool sample. A small amount of the child's feces can be studied
under a microscope to look for roundworm eggs or worms.

How is roundworm infection treated?

In most cases, roundworms can be easily treated by taking a medicine that kills the
worms in about 3 days. Medicines called albendazole, mebendazole, and pyrantel are
commonly used in the U.S. In rare cases, surgery may be needed to relieve a severe
intestinal obstruction caused by roundworms. Reinfection can happen, and is common
in areas where it is widespread.

Be sure to contact your child's healthcare provider if you suspect roundworms.

Can roundworm infection be prevented?

Here are preventive steps for a roundworm infection:

Be aware of the risk when traveling in developing countries where soil may be contaminated
by feces.

Wash and peel or thoroughly cook fruits and vegetables before eating.

Wash your hands and teach your children to wash their hands with soap and water after
being outside, before handling food, and after going to the bathroom.